Trolling spoon



arch E, 1932.

J. HQFSQHNEIDER 13 8431397 TROLLING SPOON Filed Oqt. 25, 1929 INVENTOR .Hbfschneider Patented Mar. 1, 1932 PATENT? OFFICE FREDERIC J. HOFSCHNEIDER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK TROLLING SPOON Application filed October 25, 1929. Serial No. 402,357.

This invention relates to improvements in trolling or casting spoons, such as used by fishermen in trolling or casting for fish, and has for its object the provision of a lure of this kind which very closely resembles the diversified action of some living object when moving through the water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trolling spoon provided with a W pair of crystals adjacent its forward end and arranged on opposite sides of its medial axis so as to resemble a live object having a pair of eyes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spoon of this kind which moves through the water with alternately an undulating motion and a spinning motion to gix e it the resemblance of a living object, said motions being alternately controlled at the will of the fisherman by the speed with which the spoon is retrieved or drawn.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spoon of this kind in which the crystals or beads which simulate the eyes are provided with reflecting facets and are arranged in openings in the spoon so as to be visible from both sides thereof.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

"" In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a trolling spoon constructed according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the same;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same:

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the spoon, and

Figure 5 is a section on line ure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which one way of carrying out the invention is illustrated, a spoon is shown having a body 1. The body of the spoon is pref- 5-5 of Figerably constructed of sheet material, such as copper, brass, silver, nickel or the like,

which will take a high polish and not tarnish or corrode quickly in water. The spoon is preferably elongated or substantially elliptical in form and is concavo-convex, having a convex upper surface and concave lower 56 surface as shown.

The body 1 is provided with openings 2 and 3 at its ends in which the rings 4 and 5 are mounted. These rings serve as supports for fishhooks, and the ring 4 also serves as 60 a convenient point for attaching a swivel 6 and line 6. The rings 4 and 5 are arranged near the ends of a medial axis through the spoon which divides the spoon into two symmetrical parts, and the outer edges of the spoon lie in substantially a single plane. Any desired number of fishhooks may be employed. In the present instance, a treble hook 7 is shown on the ring 5 or tail of the spoon and a double hook 8 on the ring 4 or head of 7 the spoon.

In order to provide a device which will sug gest a living thing when movingin the water, a pair of crystals or beads 9 are provided which are arranged on opposite sides of the medial axis near the forward end or head of the spoon, so that they resemble the eyes of something alive. These beads are mounted in openings in the spoon so as to be visible from either side thereof, but are made of larger size than the openings so that they cannot pass through the spoon but are seated in theupper ends of the openings through which they project In the present instance, the beads are secured in said openings by suitable means which comprises a flexible cord or wire 10 threaded through an opening in the bead and engaging openings in the spoon adja cent the opening in which the head is seated;

The bears or crystals are preferably constructed of glass or other suitable transparent material and if desired may be colored to suit the fancy of the angler. They are preferably made with facets as shown to increase their reflectibility. A spoon constructed as herein described and attached to the line as shown will, by reason of the unequal resistance of-- fered to the water on its upper and lower surfaces, move in an undulating path or revolve at the will of the fisherman according to the speed at which it is retrieved or drawn. B reason of the diversity of the character of its movement, the form of the spoon and the location and arrangement of the crystals 6 or heads, the spoon closely resembles a living thing when moving through the water.

While the invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this applica- 10 tion is intended to cover such changes or modifications thereof as may come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims. I claim: l8, 1. A trolling spoon resembling a minnow, frog or the like comprising abody portion in the form of a substantially elliptical concavo- A convex plate having a pair of openings symmetrically arranged toward one end on op- 20 posite sides of its longitudinal axis, and beads in said openings secured to the body portion and projecting therethrough, said openings and beads being located in relation to the axis and sides of the body portion so 26 as to resemble the eyes of a minnow, frog or the like from both above and below the body portion as the latter spins in the Water.

2. A trolling spoon resembling a minnow, frog or the like comprising a body portion in 30 the form of a substantially elliptical plate having a pair of openings symmetrically arranged toward one end on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis, and beads in the openings secured to the body portion and project- 3 ing therethrough, said openings and beads being located in relation to the axis and sides of the body portion so as to resemble the eyes of a minnow, frog or the like from both above and below the body portion as the latter 69 spins in the water.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FREDERIC J. HOFSCHNEIDER. 

